GM Europe popped this one into my inbox overnight.
Here’s an edited clip of the reveal and a few of the speakers appearing there in Geneva.
Saab 9-X reveal video from Geneva
7
Category Archives: Saab 9-1
From 9-X concept to Saab 9-1 – what would you like to see?
So now we’ve seen it.
The car that Jan-Ake Jonsson says shows what Saab could bring to compact car design in the future. The Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept vehicle.
Like all concept cars, it’s full of goodies both real and conceptual that may or may not make it into a real vehicle in the future. So out of all of them, what are you favourites? What would you like to see in the production version of the Saab 9-1 when it comes?
——
Super efficient and torquey 1.4 litre engine running on E85, with direct injection and capable of 40+ mpg and 200hp.
Hybrid powertrain assistance with regenerative braking, fuel cutoff and engine restart
Six speed sequential gearbox
Solar roof panels to charge the hybrid batteries (or to provide cabin cooling at rest?)
Lane departure warning system
Automatic dipping of high beams when the vehicle senses oncoming headlamps
Four point electric seat belts
Aero-X inspired front end
Extended light pipes across full front of vehicle
Cut off rear end, as opposed to sloping rear on many hatches
Touch sensitive, keyless entry
Retracting rear view cameras
Active aerodynamics: extending rear spoiler, raised during braking, pop-down rear diffuser
Radical driver oriented cabin styling
Acrylic surfacing for driver and passenger interfaces and gauges
Ambient, adjustable interior lighting
Seamless use of phones, media players, PDAs
Two part tailgate
Friction surfacing in load area
Retracting load rails
——
That’s a reasonably long list full of some fundamental items that Saab should definitely be looking to add to this vehicle when it actually comes to pass.
Some might sound fanciful, but this car’s most likely two to three years away. Audi, BMW and Mini won’t be letting their cars sit idle between now and then. What kept Larry Bird practising basketball even when he was at the top of his game? It was knowing that Magic Johnson was somewhere on the west coast practising his game, too. Saab have to get hungry.
It’s a pretty decent list of choices. What do you want to see most?
Tuesday Night Snippets
Well, that was quite a day, wasn’t it?
Now, on to things that aren’t related to the 9-X……
——
….well, almost.
One of the alluring features of the 9-X concept is the connectivity available for nomadic devices such as phones, mp3 players, pda’s etc. This has all been done in partnership with Sony Ericsson, who have a website dedicated to their car connectivity stuff.
Sony Ericsson are looking to take advantage of increased Bluetooth connectivity and gadget technology to provide more automotive fun. Of course, whether or not any of this stuff actually works in the 9-X concept vehicle is another matter all together. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just paid a chunk of cash to have their product advertised in the car.
Me? Cynical?
——
It almost seems appropriate to embed Andy Rupert’s remix of Release Me now that the new Saab hatch has been shown. But I won’t.
Instead, I’ll just tell you all that our former bard and 900 owner just picked up his V12 Jaguar XJS and managed to get it all the way back from New Jersey to Ohio without any major trouble (of the mechanical kind, at least. The going backwards thing…..that’s something else all together)
The car’s looking good, too!
——
Saab 9-7x supplies might dwindle a little shortly. Either that or inventories will reach proper levels.
The current strike at parts supplier American Axle has forced the plant that makes the 9-7x in Moraine, Ohio, to shut down.
——
I’ll be reporting US sales data shortly, but Saab are once again at the top of a sales-related list they’d rather not appear on…..the sales incentives list:
Comparing all brands, in February Mini spent the least — virtually nothing — followed by Scion at $182 per vehicle sold. At the other end of the spectrum, Saab spent the most, $6,266, followed by Cadillac at $5,878 per vehicle sold. Relative to their vehicle prices, Saab and Pontiac spent the most, 17.6 percent and 16.8 percent of sticker price, respectively, while Mini spent virtually nothing and Porsche spent just 1.1 percent.
Highest incentives and falling sales with a better main model.
Hmmmm. Could be the advertising.
——
I’m trying a new advertising company in the left sidebar. They’re a startup, so it’s their own ad showing as I write this. Let’s see how they go.
Swedish response to the Saab 9-X BioHybrid
My thanks to ctm for sending through this summary of articles from Sweden.
Various publications have put together their thoughts and what they saw as the highlight(s) of the car:
——
Robert Collin:
- - He is calling it the 9-1 or the 9-2 BioHybrid – he was probably in a hurry.
- He says it will be built in Trollhättan 2012 or 2013. [Hmm...]
- The Astra will be first with this hybrid technology, in about 2 years time.
- He says that the reason for the delay at the show was that the car was transported from Italy (were it was built) to Geneva in the afternoon and got stuck in customs.
- About 8000 people have voted at aftonbladet.se at the time of writing and 55% give it 5 out of 5.
——
- Positive review.
Keyless. Lots of functions can be used even when the driver is outside the car. [?]
Most functions can be access from the steering wheel.
Automatic headlight adjusting after time of day, weather, other traffic.
Solar panel in the roof. [I didn't see that at first. Cool!]
When can it be in production? “In about 1 year”, claim the Saab people. [Hmm...]
——
- Can be manufactured in a few years as Saab 9-1 or 9-2.
Say that they will have a review tomorrow.
——
- Same hybrid system as in Saturn Aura, but much more powerful.
The hybrid system cost about 10.000 SEK. [more per car?]
No production before 2010; 2011 more likely.
——
- Lots of stuff and pics.
- Ditto.
——
- A positive review.
About 90% of people voting so far think the design is either great or OK.
——
Swade here….
Interesting to see the wide variety of build dates. I saw a reference in a US publication earlier today that also mentioned it could be available in around a year. I have more chance of winning the women’s decathlon at the Beijing Olympics than buying this car before 2010.
I’m not sure I’d push it out as far as Collin’s 2012 or 2013 though. If that’s the case then this truly was a pointless exercise.
Good to see the Swedes are loving the new little Saab. I reckon they’ve got good reason to. I liked it from the get-go and the more I see, the more I like.
Just build it, eh?
My 0.02c on the Saab 9-X BioHybrid
Well, what a day it’s been already (and it’s only 9.45am).
Personally I’ve had a server crash and a resulting phone call with my hosting company who tried to tell me nothing was wrong. I’ve been confused about if and where images were going to appear and I’ve a darn good chat with various people about the Saab 9-X BioHybrid. I’ve been mad as hell (at Saab) and as happy as a clam (with Saab). I need sleep.
So what about the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept?
The first thing you’ve got to note about this car is that it is, in every way, a concept vehicle. I suppose it had to be, given that the car is still 3 years away at best. But I think many of us, me included, were hoping for something a bit closer to a production vehicle, especially after the 9-4x appeared to be so close to production standard in many ways.
With the possible and remote exception of the exterior shape, this doesn’t seem to me to be even close to production. I’ll go so far as to say that from the few photos we’ve seen so far, bits of it don’t even look close to show grade, even for a concept car. The cgi of the interior looks very interesting, but the one close up photo that I’ve seen made it look like a high school project. It’s quite possible that this car should have been held over to Paris later this year so as to be appropriately finished prior to going on show.
Saab’s own press materials say that this is the sixth real concept car they’ve done in the 00′s (not counting pseudo concepts like the BioPower100 and BioPower Hybrid Convertible etc). By my count there’s only been five new production cars in that time, and that’s if you count the 9-3 as three different models (sedan, combi and convertible) AND include the 9-2x and 9-7x.
Saab needs to put something on the showroom floor. The dealers need it, the buyers need it and I even think the company itself needs it in order to believe that they’re capable of doing so once again. It’s time to either s#!t or get off the pot.
Now having said all that, the signs are very encouraging. Personally, I love it.
Saab 9-X BioHybrid – live shots
UPDATED
Auto Motor and Sport in Sweden have video, which I presume is of the unveiling (it’s taking a while to load). They also have a wide-angle shot of the interior, which gives a much better overview.
——
Trollhattan Saab’s men on the scene, Marcel and Gian-Luca, have just sent some shots through from the reveal.
It all started with this…..click to enlarge
9-X Microsite and gallery
UPDATED!
I now have the full press kit of photos loaded up. Click on any shot to enlarge.
There’s some animation on the Saab International site.
More 9-X BioHybrid photos
I just wanted to alert you all to some other 9-X photo libraries.
My mates at Auto Motor and Sport have some great shots, including this one of the interior. Go visit them for a HUGE version.
There’s a band of asshat comments and a whole lotta photos at Autoblog.
And Etienne from the Saabhuy blog in Belgium has provided photos for Saab History.